Kentucky Opera was founded in 1952 by Moritz von Bomhard and designated the State Opera of Kentucky in 1982. Operas were presented in the Columbia Auditorium until 1964 when they moved to the Brown Theatre. The company began performing selected works at Whitney Hall in the Kentucky Center for the Arts in 1984 and moved all mainstage performances to the Whitney in 2000. The Louisville Orchestra plays for all performances, and the Louisville Ballet performs on occasions when operas require classical dance.
